Distracted walking: Examining the extent to pedestrian safety problems
Pedestrians, much like drivers, have always been engaged in multi-tasking like using hand-held devices, listening to music, snacking, or reading while walking. The effects are similar to those experienced by distracted drivers. However, distracted walking has not received similar policies and effect...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2015-10-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English ed. Online) |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095756415000689 |
| _version_ | 1819173994538991616 |
|---|---|
| author | Judith Mwakalonge Saidi Siuhi Jamario White |
| author_facet | Judith Mwakalonge Saidi Siuhi Jamario White |
| author_sort | Judith Mwakalonge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Pedestrians, much like drivers, have always been engaged in multi-tasking like using hand-held devices, listening to music, snacking, or reading while walking. The effects are similar to those experienced by distracted drivers. However, distracted walking has not received similar policies and effective interventions as distracted driving to improve pedestrian safety. This study reviewed the state-of-practice on policies, campaigns, available data, identified research needs, and opportunities pertaining to distracted walking. A comprehensive review of literature revealed that some of the agencies/organizations disseminate useful information about certain distracting activities that pedestrians should avoid while walking to improve their safety. Various walking safety rules/tips have been given, such as not wearing headphones or talking on a cell phone while crossing a street, keeping the volume down, hanging up the phone while walking, being aware of traffic, and avoiding distractions like walking with texting. The majority of the past observational-based and experimental-based studies reviewed in this study on distracted walking is in agreement that there is a positive correlation between distraction and unsafe walking behavior. However, limitations of the existing crash data suggest that distracted walking may not be a severe threat to the public health. Current pedestrian crash data provide insufficient information for researchers to examine the extent to which distracted walking causes and/or contributes to actual pedestrian safety problems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T20:31:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-247715adf65d462da60e7d8251ee2b4f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2095-7564 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T20:31:55Z |
| publishDate | 2015-10-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English ed. Online) |
| spelling | doaj.art-247715adf65d462da60e7d8251ee2b4f2022-12-21T18:13:34ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English ed. Online)2095-75642015-10-012532733710.1016/j.jtte.2015.08.004Distracted walking: Examining the extent to pedestrian safety problemsJudith Mwakalonge0Saidi Siuhi1Jamario White2Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering Technology and Nuclear Engineering, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC 29117, USADepartment of Civil Engineering, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Civil and Mechanical Engineering Technology and Nuclear Engineering, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC 29117, USAPedestrians, much like drivers, have always been engaged in multi-tasking like using hand-held devices, listening to music, snacking, or reading while walking. The effects are similar to those experienced by distracted drivers. However, distracted walking has not received similar policies and effective interventions as distracted driving to improve pedestrian safety. This study reviewed the state-of-practice on policies, campaigns, available data, identified research needs, and opportunities pertaining to distracted walking. A comprehensive review of literature revealed that some of the agencies/organizations disseminate useful information about certain distracting activities that pedestrians should avoid while walking to improve their safety. Various walking safety rules/tips have been given, such as not wearing headphones or talking on a cell phone while crossing a street, keeping the volume down, hanging up the phone while walking, being aware of traffic, and avoiding distractions like walking with texting. The majority of the past observational-based and experimental-based studies reviewed in this study on distracted walking is in agreement that there is a positive correlation between distraction and unsafe walking behavior. However, limitations of the existing crash data suggest that distracted walking may not be a severe threat to the public health. Current pedestrian crash data provide insufficient information for researchers to examine the extent to which distracted walking causes and/or contributes to actual pedestrian safety problems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095756415000689Distracted walkingPedestrian distractionsPublic awareness campaignsWalking safety rules/tipsPedestrian fatalitiesTraffic fatalities |
| spellingShingle | Judith Mwakalonge Saidi Siuhi Jamario White Distracted walking: Examining the extent to pedestrian safety problems Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English ed. Online) Distracted walking Pedestrian distractions Public awareness campaigns Walking safety rules/tips Pedestrian fatalities Traffic fatalities |
| title | Distracted walking: Examining the extent to pedestrian safety problems |
| title_full | Distracted walking: Examining the extent to pedestrian safety problems |
| title_fullStr | Distracted walking: Examining the extent to pedestrian safety problems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distracted walking: Examining the extent to pedestrian safety problems |
| title_short | Distracted walking: Examining the extent to pedestrian safety problems |
| title_sort | distracted walking examining the extent to pedestrian safety problems |
| topic | Distracted walking Pedestrian distractions Public awareness campaigns Walking safety rules/tips Pedestrian fatalities Traffic fatalities |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095756415000689 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT judithmwakalonge distractedwalkingexaminingtheextenttopedestriansafetyproblems AT saidisiuhi distractedwalkingexaminingtheextenttopedestriansafetyproblems AT jamariowhite distractedwalkingexaminingtheextenttopedestriansafetyproblems |